What is the purpose of black colleges? Why do black colleges continue to exist? Are black colleges necessary?Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are at the same time the least studied and the least understood institutions of higher education and the most maligned and the most endangered.

Ronyelle Bertrand Ricard is Coordinator, University-Wide Self-Study, Howard University. She has also served as the Coordinator for Research and Professional Development at the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. M. Christopher Brown II is the 18th President of Kentucky State University and Founder of the Atwood Institute on Race, Education, and the Democratic Ideal. Dr. Brown is the author/editor of 17 books and monographs. He is the author or co-author of more than 100 journal articles, book chapters, and publications related to education and society. A recipient of the Association for the Study of Higher Education's Promising Scholar/Early Career Award, the AERA Committee on Scholars of Color Early Career Contribution Award, the Philip C. Chinn Book Award from the National Association for Multicultural Education, and the Association of Teacher Educators Distinguished Educator Award, he has lectured and/or presented research in various countries on six continents - Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Lenoar Foster is Professor and Associate Dean for Administration, Research, and Graduate Studies, College of Education, Washington State University.

Foreword-Lenoar Foster; Introduction; 1. Understanding Black Colleges; 2. Black Campus Populations; 3. Profiles of Selected Black Colleges; 4. Mission Matters at Historically Black Institutions; 5. The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same; References; Appendix A. Four-Year Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Appendix B. Predominantly Black Colleges and Universities; Appendix C. The Research Framework. A Note on Method; About the Authors; Index.